Lisbon Chamber rejuvenating fund

LISBON – The Chamber of Commerce agreed Tuesday to help rejuvenate a local music scholarship fund by donating $500 to the cause.

The donation to the Lucile B. Hepburn Memorial Music Scholarship fund was requested by Tom McKenna and Peggy Elliott of the Lisbon Music Study Club, which administers the scholarship program.

McKenna and Elliott attended this week’s chamber meeting as part of the club’s efforts to raise money for the scholarship program because the amount generated by investment of Hepburn’s initial donation has fallen off dramatically in recent years due to declining interest rates.

McKenna said the interest income being generated was insufficient to provide a minimum of five scholarships of at least $600 to students from area high schools who go off to college and major in music or related field.

He said the club is going around asking businesses and organizations for contributions to get the annual scholarship pool back up to $3,000.

-The board agreed to sponsor parade trophies for Lisbon’s next all-school reunion scheduled for July 5, 2014. The chamber also agreed to help with the event, which is attended by thousands.

– The board created a subcommittee to study having the organization create a Business of the Year award and sponsor an annual dinner to honor the winner. Chamber President Susan Shank said this something she would like the chamber to consider.

– Shank also said they need to explore acquiring a trailer of some sorts to carry the Johnny Appleseed Festival queen and her court for when they participate in parades at other Ohio festivals.

She said it is getting harder to find someone with a convertible to provide the service and suggested purchasing a small trailer that could be pulled by another vehicle to accomplish the same thing.

“It has to be able to hold three girls and an apple,” joked chamber member Missy Ieropoli.